It’s no Secret – Real Men Wear Aprons
Author: Peter Lazar
Review by: R.W.Bro Stan Rawlings PAGM.

The latest Book on Freemasonry (2009) is entitled “It’s no Secret – Real Men Wear Aprons” (Author Peter Lazar) is an excellent publication as a follow up to Dan Brown’s recent book “The Lost Symbol” which shone a very positive light on Freemasonry and probably would have stirred interest in many people.

The Foreword to Peter Lazar’s Book was written by Dr. Greg Levenston, Grand Master, United Grand Lodge of N.S.W. & A.C.T. He quotes – “This book explains that the purpose of Freemasonry is to do good, to build better lives and to be of service to Society.”

What Freemasonry has done and is doing in Australia has never been compiled in quite this way before. “ It’s No Secret – Real Men Wear Aprons” covers how carefully the Craft attracts its good men, how it teaches them valuable lessons of morality and virtue, of charity and brotherly love and of happiness. It stresses the fact that good men of all races, religions and walks of life can join together in harmony and peace within the Lodges of Freemasonry and in the broader communities in which we live and operate.

Freemasonry is all about belonging to and connecting with our community, particularly in providing aged care facilities at Sandgate, Cairns, Gold Coast, Townsville and several other major towns. In the last 5 years Queensland Freemasons have raised $2.2m to assist the Leukaemia Foundation provide accommodation units at Townsville and beside QE2 Hospital in Brisbane.

The Foreword continues that – “Today Freemasonry is not secretive, nor is it a secret. That’s why the book is called “It’s No Secret”. It talks of how Freemasonry began, why it has existed for so long and what a candidate can expect from it. Importantly it focuses on how Freemasonry works in and supports Australia.

At the same time it is true that there is a mystique about this ancient fraternity. The allegories which explain Freemasonry are of the greatest value in conveying moral lessons to its members. The book talks of these things and points out that for Masons these elements are of real interest and benefit”.

In a final comment Dr. Greg Levenston points out that “Freemasonry has great benefits and can share them with you. It has helped hundreds of thousands of Australians to live a better, happier, more useful life”.

One contributor to the Book, Dr. Bob James did his Ph.D. studies researching numerous fraternities such as Trade Unions, Friendly Societies and those based on religious affiliation such as Loyal Orange, Hibernian and Holy Catholic Guild and particularly Freemasonry. His first acquaintance with “fraternal enthusiastists” was at a conference in Sheffield England in 2004 when he was asked to give a keynote address at a “We Band of Brothers” conference where Professor Andrew Prescott was setting up a Centre for Research into Freemasonry.

Looking at what he has written since seems to invite a charge that he entered into Freemasonry in 2008 only to satisfy some long-held interests which have nothing to do with the Craft and which had been frustrated elsewhere.

His final remarks are very relevant – “Of all the fraternities which I’ve studied, some of which I’ve also looked at from the inside, Freemasonry is the only one which so far has shown itself to have sufficient integrity and self-belief to look its detractors squarely in the eye and, without pulling down new shutters, makes a serious attempt at its own re-invention”.

The Book is very descriptive of Freemasonry – what it is, its Masonic ceremonies, its principles in practice, symbols of the Craft, Masonic Architecture and particularly it’s History in Australia.

Most of the above information and the “signs and secrets” are already available by accessing the Internet. However, this Book is the first Australian attempt to bring it all together in the Story of Freemasonry in Australia.

For any person to really benefit from its teachings and personal development as an individual, one would need to join as a member and experience the mystique of its ceremonies and associated teachings and learn from one’s elders in the fraternity from their life experiences, so that you become a far better person in today’s society.

The Book also includes details of Famous Freemasons such as Sir Donald Bradman and 30 others, including former Prime Ministers, explorers and actors among them.

It is certainly a Book which can be recommended reading for sceptics of Freemasonry.